Alternating-current rectifier.



I L. E. FRANCE.

ALTERNATING CURRENT REcTlFIER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 4. 1915.

Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

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L. E. FRANCE. ALTERNAHNG CURRENT RECTlElER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 4. 1915.

Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

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LESTER E. FRANCE, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

ALTEBNATINGr-CURRENT RECTIFIER.

Application filed March 4, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LESTER E. FRANCE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Alternating- Current Rectifiers, `of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to alternating current rectifiers of the vibrating type, for changing the direction of an alternating current to provide a` direct current.

The instrument is particularly useful for charging batteries, but capable of other uses to which it is appropriate.

Vibrating rectifiers are of two types. In one, only one wave is utilized. In the other both waves are utilized, and this invention relates to the latter type. Some of these devices use auxiliary coils or relays which reduce the efficiency and which must depend upon an outside source of direct current, such as the battery which is being charged, and which have complicated parts which increase the cost of the device.

One object of this invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive device whichdoes not require, for its operation, any outside source of direct current. I

Another object vof the device is to pro- `vide means for adjusting the vibrator so that itcan be made to work on any frequency, and also compensate for the lag in the rectified current, thereby requiring no condensers or other systems of timing.

A further object of the invention is to secure sparkless operation of the contact points when supplyinguni-directional current to a receiving circuit which may or may not have counter E. M. F., by providing means whereby the points shall not make or break contact until the charging wave equals at least the voltage of the receiving circuit, when there will be no difference of points, and consequently no sparking. Therefore means are provided for varying the time of contact, and the duration of contact, to suit; conditions. i

A furtherI object of the invention is to provide means to cushion the impact of the vibrator.

and to permit the points to move points as during the together or with each other,

eak of the wave.

A further object of the invention is to provide an instrument which will auto- Specication of Letters Patent.

voltage of the potential between the Patented npr. is, 1916. sei-iai No. 12,195.

endelevation, partly in section. Fig. 5 is a diagram ofv the circuits.

Referring specifically to the drawings 1 indicates a non-magnetic end piece, and 1a an opposite end piece forming a magnetic path for the vibrating armature.

2 and 3 are side pieces or bars connecting the end pieces of the frame. The end pieces have sockets 4 and 4* for the laminated core 5, and 6 indicates the insulating fiber disks for the ends of the coil.

7 is the tubular insulation open the charging circuit so that be realized in a vabetween the core and the windings 8 of the transformer coil.

The permanentymagnet 10v is supported on the frame and held by a screw 11: passing through the lug 12 on the end piece 1, and this magnet terminates in the pole .pieces 9 and 92L of opposite polarity.

13 lindicates an insulating'blockl orv sup-l port for the conducting brackets 14 and 15 for holding the contacts to be described.

Fuses 18 and '20 are held between thumb nut 16 and screw 17, and thumb nut 19 and screw 21, at opposite sides respectively.4

22 is 'a secondarylead from the coil to the binding nut 16, and 23 is [a secondary lead, onthe opposite side.

24 and 25 indicate 28 is a lead from battery to be` L' Y 105 the opposite terminal i the opposite side conl i nections to the alternating current or supplyl 00 of'the lbattery to a connection-indicated at 4.5 )(Fig. 2

the end piece 1a by means of a screw 30, the armature -beingfadjustable lengthwise, to lengthen or shorten the same, by means which is in circuit with they This comprises a spring tongue or plate 31 which is secured to alug 29 -on'j 1'1'0 'A of a slot through which the screw 30 extends. t its free end the armature or tongue has opposite contact points 33 and 3i which cooperate with points on opposite contact springs 3G and 35 which are fastened to and depend from the brackets li and .l5 by means oi screws 3T and 38. These contact springs may be adjusted toward or from the armature and it will be noticed that this varies the time of contact, as well as permitting the springs 35 and 3G to yield more or less, thereby cushioning the impacts and Varying the period duringr which the points remain in contact. I

At its free end the armature 3l is connected to one end of a spring 39 the other end of which is connected to a screw 40 supported by across piece il and held at adjustment by nuts i2 and 43. the spring being` in alinement with the middle position of the tongue. The tension or adjustment ot this spring Varies or regulates the frequency of the Vibration of the armature and also assists the adjustment for lag, and the springl opens the charging ciicuit at any interruption ot' the supply current.

44 is a naine plate.

In operation current iii one direction entering through the line 25, say, passes through the coil 8, the secondary or induced current of ci'iposite direction liowing through the lines 2G and 27, battery, iine 2S, armature 3l, the core 5 the field of which is transmitted tlirough the magnetic end frame la to the armature Sl inducing north polarity therein, causing the south pole 9a of the permanent magnet l0 to attract the armature whose point 34e contacts with the point on the spring' contact which yields and peru-rits the contact to hold or remain during the peak of the wave, the circuit being completed through the\ line 22 back to the secondary connection, the supply circuit beingcompleted through the return 24. When the current enters through the Supply line 24 it passes through the coil, the secondary or induced current oi oppo* site direction passing through the leads 26 and 27 and through the battery to the armature in which opposite polarity is then induced, causing the same to be attracted by the north pole 9 of the permanent magnet, thereby closing the contacts 33 and 36 and completing the secondary Icircuit through the line 23 back to the secondary coil. Thereby the opposite waves of the alternating current are transformeriinto a unidirectional charging current through the battery. The secondary part of the coil 8 is symmetrical, that is, the connection of the line 26 is midway between the c0nnections oi the lines 22 and 23, with the coil.

As stated before the adjustment of the springs y35, 36 and 39 and the armature 3l permits the vibrations of the armature to be timed according to local conditions and to compensate ior any lapv iii 'the rectified current, as well as to delay separation dui-inn' the peak ot' the waves, and the points will not make or break contact until the voltage ot' the charging wave at least equals the voltage of the. receiving circuit; hence sjiiarking will be substantially avoided and discharge of the battery through the iiistrmnent is prevented.

That lf claim as new is:

1. In a rectifier, the combination of an alternating,` current supply circuit, a direct current circuit havingopposite contacts, a permanent magnet, and a vib'ator energized by the alternating current and located in the field of the magnet and cooperating with the said contacts to close the direct current circuit.

2. In a rectifier, the combination oic ai alternating current supply circuit, a circuit for direct current derived therefrom and having opposite contacts, a. Vibrator mag,rnetized by said alternating current, and a permanent i'iiagrnet the opposite poles of which coperate with said vibrator to alter nately attract the same, the vibrator beingu located between the contactsto close therewith alternately.

3. In a rectitier.I the combination. of ternating current supply circuity inciuding the primary ot an induction coil, a direct current circuit including the secondary of said coil and cpposi te ccnitacts, vibrator in said direct current circuit and in inductive relation to said primary, and located between said contacts to close therewith alternately, and a `permanent magnet haifing poles on opposite sides of the vibrator.

4. In a rectifier, the combination of an alternating supply circuit, an open-ended induction coil whose primary is included in said circuit, a. direct current circuit including a pair of opposite contacts and the secondary ot said coil, a permanent magnet, and a spring; contact armature in the direct current circuit and in the field of the core of the induction coil and vibrating between the poles oi' magnet and an alin cooperation with said contr cts.

5. In a rectifier, the com mat' in et an alternating supply circuit includino' the pri- .uiary ot' an induction coil, a direct current circuit including a pair or opposite contacts and the secondary of I net, and a vibrating,` contact armature in said vdirect current circuit and in inductive relation to said coil, and

said magnet, said armature being located between therewith.

6. In a rectifier, the combination of fir-i said contacts and coiiierating in the lield of said coil, a magie f side to said coil connection at one and having opposite branches symmetrically connected to said coil on opposite sides of said connection, and/a contact in each branch, a permanent magnet, and a vibrating armature between the poles of said magnet and in inductive relation to said coil and included in said direct current circuit and arranged t0 close with said contacts alternately to make the circuit through said branches respectively.

circuit having one 7. In a rectifier, the combination of an alternating current supply circuit including the primary of an induction coil, a perma- 

